ALEXANDRIA – Parkview Market customers will have to wait even longer for more parking space, as City Council has called a special hearing to discuss the zoning change.

The hearing will take place at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 3, in Council Chambers, 8236 W. Main St.; the regular City Council meeting will immediately follow.

The parking lot addition, a former residence at 11 Sunset Drive directly behind the market, was discussed at the Feb. 18 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting, but residents and some City Council members are concerned that not many people who live on the street knew about that hearing.

Property owner Jim Newman, one of the Parkview Market’s owners, applied to change the Sunset lot’s zoning from Residential to Highway Commercial.

The commission approved the change because it is in line with the city’s comprehensive plan.

Sunset Drive resident Jackie Shaw said the heavy snowfall and cars parked in front of the sign meant residents couldn’t see the sign to advertise the hearing.

“The people I spoke to had no idea what was going on,” said Shaw.

City Council member Barb Weber suggested having another public hearing so those residents could speak.

“I think we owe it to the residents to hear what they have to say,” said Weber. “It’s unusual circumstances and we may need a little more input.”

Mayor Bill Rachford said, “If council wants to have another public hearing on this, I don’t have a problem with that.”

“I don’t think it could hurt anything to give the residents one more shot,” said Council member Andy Schabell. “I believe the people on that street, when they purchased those homes, had a reasonable expectation that a lot that had no direct access to U.S. 27 would not become Highway Commercial zone.”

City Attorney Michael Duncan said changing the property to the Highway Commercial zone would not open the property to any of the zone’s 57 uses in the future.

He said that because the zoning change is tied to the site’s development plan any future changes to the property, such as demolition or redevelopment, would require another Planning and Zoning Commission hearing and approval by the City Council.